Construction work on the new 96-bed inpatient block at University Hospital Limerick is due to commence in October 2022.
This follows the appointment of John Sisk and Son as the successful contractor.The construction phase will take at least two years to complete. Thereafter the new facility will also have to be equipped and commissioned for use before being put into operation. The project represents a total capital investment of in excess of €90 million. The project will deliver a net total of approximately 49 new beds. Management at UHL say the project begins to address the shortage of inpatient bed capacity in the UL Hospitals Group and in the Mid West Region.
The new 9,800 square-metre block will be built over the existing Emergency Department and Dialysis Unit and will consist of 96 en-suite single rooms. Approximately half of the beds will be new beds for inpatients while the remainder will be replacement beds allowing the hospital to close or refurbish some of the more outdated inpatient accommodation on the site.
Single-room capacity is seen as vital to be able to isolate patients from hospital acquired infections. Management also expect that the project will help to attract and retain staff, reduce the number of outbreaks and their associated costs and reduce the number of bed days lost as well as average length of stay in University Hospital Limerick.
